Obituary of Robert Dwight Louden

October 10, 1927 – Calgary, Alberta

November 20, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Bob Louden passed away peacefully at the Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary, AB on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. 

Born in Calgary, AB, in 1927, he lived a full life. Although he was a city boy, his heart was always in the mountains where he spent many years enjoying the beauty of the Canadian Rockies while climbing, hiking, camping, and skiing.

Bob was an active member of the Boy Scouts of Canada and the Rifle Club of Calgary as a teen. His young adult weekends were spent in the newly formed Canadian Youth Hostel Association participating in work parties building the chain of mountain hostels. Bob was also an active member of the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies and the Alpine Club of Canada. He cherished his memories of the good times and good friends he made in those years.

His darkroom was another of Bob’s happy places, where he produced his own photos. Friends anticipated his homemade Christmas cards with mountain scenes, and the extended family appreciated a large, shared library of family photos.

Bob married Betty Christensen in 1952. She, too, loved the mountains, and camping and hiking were how they vacationed together as a young family. They enjoyed owning an acreage close to Sundre, AB, and then a cabin in the Kananaskis, AB, the basecamp for many hikes and excursions and where they hosted many gatherings of family and friends.

Bob started his working life as a store clerk at the Hudson’s Bay downtown. While there, he took industrial accounting courses and worked in the accounting and payroll departments for Commonwealth Petroleum, Calgary Brewing & Malting, and then at Amoco until his retirement in 1986. He was a member of the Amoco Alumni and acted as the treasurer for the BP Volunteers for ten years. 

The Manor at Rocky Ridge was home to Bob for the last nineteen years.  He loved living there, speaking to everyone, and took pleasure in the view of the mountains from his sunroom.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Colleen (Dave Lemire) and son Blair (Carol-Ann), four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

At Bob’s request, there will be no service.  He will be missed by all who knew him.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Robert’s family here.

In living memory of Robert Louden, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.